Who doesn’t love trains?

This is something I’ve been looking forward to this entire trip!  A wonderful afternoon on a restored steam locomotive-pulled train through the Cotswolds!

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is a volunteer operated heritage railway in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire that uses part of the route of the former Great Western Railway’s main line.

It now operates steam and heritage diesel trains between Cheltenham Racecourse and Broadway through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Cotswolds. The line commands wonderful views of the nearby sleepy hamlets and villages, with outstanding outlooks across to the Malvern Hills and beyond. 

And today – I’m getting to ride!

Our starting point is the INCREDIBLY cool Toddington Station.  This looks like it’s a set lifted straight out of an old black-and-white movie, except it’s the “real thing”.  Opened in 1904, it has platforms on both sides of the dual track with an access footbridge that spans over the tracks.  They have done a really excellent job of attempting to recreate the historical look-and-feel.

The booking office looks like it’s still operating as it did in the middle of the 20th century, with luggage stacked up and waiting to be loaded on-board the next train.  

Since we’re departing from Platform 2 (on the other side), we cross the bridge to the other side, but not before I get several photos up/down the tracks. This is so freaking cool, and the train hasn’t even arrived yet!

With a little bit of time while we wait our train’s arrival, I get to explore the station buildings a bit.  The station master’s house is covered in old advertisements, but also fronted by some really wonderful flowers.  There’s even a toy steam engine coming out of a miniature tunnel.

Walking back, our Station Master is greeting today’s visitors, so I get his attention from across the tracks and snap a photo in front of the Toddington sign.  I’m thinking that a retirement gig as a GWSR Station Master would be a pretty sweet little choice.

With a whistle in the distance, our train arrives!  There’s a hustle and bustle as people make sure they’re on the right platform.  As “Old 7903” arrives pulling our historic cars and comes to a stop, individual groups make their way onboard and to the seats/tables of their choice.  

They’ve done a really stellar job of providing a recreated historic experience with these cars and the interior.  We originally get a nice booth/table set-up, but John diverts us back to the banquet car!  (good man)  

ALL ABOARD!

As we pull away from Toddington Station and head south towards Gotherington, I notice that the connections between each car allow for open windows to stand next to.  It’s here that I get to just take in the scenery as it passes and enjoy the sound of the “clackety clack” of the wheels, the puffing of the locomotive, and the ever-present whistle that blasts from time to time. 

It’s easy to get lost in the moment, and it turns out I will spend at least half of the train ride at one of these windows.

Gliding through the countryside and seeing small villages and groups of houses whisk past, it’s really an experience of a bygone age of transportation. 

I can understand the romance of the old trains and living by timetables and train availabilities.  Sometimes, we’ve just become too modern for our own good.

A pass through a very cool tunnel and we soon arrive at our first stop in Gotherington Station. 

While not as busy as Toddington, it has its charm to it.  Opened in 1906, the station itself closed in 1955.  With the GWSR now operating at a good pace, it’s a scenic stop again, although the station buildings are privately owned.  During major events the private garden is opened to passengers and the station house becomes a tea room.  

It doesn’t stop me from getting some wonderful photos and making some lasting memories.

In no time at all, the whistle sounds and we’re off again to Cheltenham!

Rejoining John, Marianne, and Henry – it’s time for a snack!  Tea cakes and prosecco are the order of the day, and I’m there for it.  Sitting and chatting as the countryside moves past is just a fantastic afternoon together.

Pulling into Cheltenham Station (adjacent to the historic Cheltenham Race Course, where races have occurred since 1815!), we have an extended stop because they need to move the engine from one end of the train to the other, as we’ve reached the end of the line! 

Watching from the ramp above the tracks, the disconnect process gathers a small crowd to watch as the move the engine back down the track to refill the water tanks for the steam engine.  We’ve got plenty of coal for the return trip, so it’s just a water fill-up!

Back down the ramp to track-side, it’s so cool to get up-close-and-personal with this restored steam engine.  The viewing groups are very polite and respectful and everyone gets a turn.  We each peek into the main engine compartment and see the coal access, the firebox, and all of the accurate and working steam engine gauges and control knobs and levers!

Once filled with water, another whistle-blast lets everyone know Old 7903 (aka “Foremarke Hall”) is making her way down to what will now be the front of the train to take us back north!  Photos and video clips are taken as the engine moves on the second track and back to meet up with the line of cars for our train. 

Watching the reconnection process is an exercise in skill and patience as the engineers guide 7903 to a gentle (but solid) connection.

Hopping back on board, we bid farewell to Cheltenham and roll north again!

Alternating between “standing at the open window” and sitting with my crew, this is really an enjoyable afternoon beyond all expectations.  Marianne jokingly wonders who’s having a better time – me or Henry?  I tell her there’s NO DOUBT that I’m having the better time.  🙂

Another stop at Gotherington, this time with one of the other GWSR trains alongside us making the southward journey.  There was no one at the window of the car next to us, which disappointed me … I wanted to ask if they had any “Grey Poupon”.  It would have amused me at least.

The stop does allow me to take one of my favorite photos of the Gotherington Station Master walking down the line of cars making sure all is well for the train to depart.

We don’t stop at Toddington on the way north, as we’re heading past and up to Broadway Station, the northernmost destination on today’s journey. 

With Old 7903 doing the “switch from one end to the other” again, there are extended photo opportunities here.

A footbridge here allows some excellent views of our train cars and the tracks heading into the distance.

The Broadway station is just as charming as the others, including “props” to look like an authentic mid-century working station.  The “branded” gas lamps must look really stunning at night!

Alongside the station entrance are a pair of traditional red telephone boxes.  I spend a few minutes talking to a nice older English gentleman who tells me how these have been given to local villages for preservation and (sometimes, as in Ebrington) reuse as defibrillation stations or the like.  I love that preservation of history is such an important thing.  These two are certainly in good shape and make for an excellent addition to the atmosphere at Broadway Station.

Soon, though, it’s time to rejoin the gang onboard and head on our last trip back down to Toddington.  The gift shop is a “must-stop” and several things are obtained there (including goodies for Cole!).

This has been a truly memorable afternoon, and there’s still more to come!